Prediction of Flow and Bank Erosion in the Sacramento River

Results of two-dimensional (depth averaged) and three dimensional computations of a 1750m reach of the Sacramento River are compared with velocity data obtained in a large-scale, distorted physical model of the same reach. The aim was to predict the level of modeling required to predict the occurrence of bank erosion observed in the field. Further results are presented which show the outcome of deploying 5 groins to inhibit bank erosion upstream of a bridge abutment. The simulations are also compared with experimental data to assess the performance of alternative shear formulae. Truncation errors are estimated using two alternative techniques. The results suggest that the occurrence and mitigation of bank erosion in large natural river systems can be predicted to an acceptable degree of accuracy.